Rio de Janeiro won the bid for the Olympic Games in 2016 and has already begun to make some changes. This section concentrates on the changes that are taking place in Rio and the issues that are yet to be resolved. Some of the videos were shot just blocks from our B.C.C. offices in Copacabana. We have highlighted the links/videos of special interest in red. The links/videos are in English unless noted otherwise. Merely right click with your mouse on the "play" symbol or the URL link.
A MUST SEE!!! This is a VERY POWERFUL video that graphically depicts the life in the Favelas. This video shows the tragic violence that is (sadly) the common way of life in Brazil and compares the killings in Rio to Afghanistan, Sierra Leon and Columbia! Furthermore, children in Rio are 8 times more likely to die violently then in Israel or the West Bank! Also mentioned is how incarcerated drug bosses have access to firearms in their jail cells. The video is in English, but, please, continue through the parts in Portuguese to the end - it is well worth it! A semi-long video and a MUST SEE to better understand the harsh reality of "life" in Brazil/Rio. It also shows how Rio/Brazil is in the process of change - where there is a will, there may be a way. Is there a way out of these problems? YES, the B.C.C.!
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This is a link (from CNN) to an article about the life in the Rio Favelas (slums.) The Favelas are all over and on most of the hills surrounding Rio, sometimes just feet away from the wealthiest neighborhoods. These Favelas are controlled by drug lords who rule over them with an iron fist and are not part of the legal system of Brazil. The Favelas have their own armed guards restricting entrance and exit. The gangs are armed with all kind of weapons from hand guns, M-16's, Ak-47's, larger caliber weapons, grenades, C-4, and RPG's. The law in the Favela is absolute and has nothing to do with the Brazilian government. Murder is the number one cause of death for males 15-44. This is a MUST READ to better understand the culture in Brazil and Rio de Janeiro.
Police Helicopter Shot Down During Shoot-Out with Drug Gang
The police in Rio are constantly waging war against the drug lords who control the Favelas. Sometimes these wars make international headlines (such as CNN.) Rio won the bid for the 2016 Olympics, the police invaded a Favela and a police helicopter was shot down (with assault weapons.) The drug gangs are commonly armed with RPG's, grenades and large caliber artillery weapons. Below is a must-see video and article. Rio truly is a war zone...
Rio has begun a program towards the "pacification" of the Favelas. This program is an attempt to assert control (by police occupation) in the Favelas and establish a system of Brazilian law and order. Until now, it has been successful. The majority of the Favelas in the South end (Zona Sul) of Rio have been "pacified." However, the two largest (Vidigalo and Rocina - the largest slum in South America) have not been controlled and many people doubt if they will be. This article focuses on the continuation of this "pacification" program. The Favela two blocks from our offices have been controlled by the police and now there are no more gun shots and bullets flying over our heads! Good job Rio!
Shoot-out Between the Gang Controlling the Favela and Two Police Helicopters! Literally blocks from one of the wealthiest areas in Brazil! The police in Rio are constantly waging war against the drug lords who control the Favelas. Here is a video of a typical war between the police and the drug lords. In this video, watch as the police helicopters hover and you hear the bullets fly by! Notice how populated the area is! Where do the stray bullets land? This violence took place just six blocks from our B.C.C. offices in Copacabana...
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This article (posted on the CNN website) is about the surge in crack (cocaine) use in Rio. The Favelas used to prohibit the sale of crack. Within the last five years this changed (it is now the most sold drug) and the seizure of crack sky-rocketed 542% in 2009. Crack is a serious problem n Rio and one of the main points of sale is blocks from our offices in Copacabana. 80-90% of homeless people are addicted to crack. A powerful article that focuses on our B.C.C. work and another MUST READ.
Gangs Set Fire to Public Buses, Police Mace Innocents, Another Police Helicopter Shot Down
Below, is another POWERFUL VIDEO! It is in Portuguese, however the images are moving and speak for themselves! This is a TYPICAL morning news story! Buses caught on fire, helicopters being shot down, etc. Where else in the world is this typical - Iraq, Columbia, Sudan, Somalia? Is this how people think of Brazil? I think not... The video was shot after the police helicopter was shot down. Notice, how the public buses have been set on fire, the close-range use of pepperspray by the police and the street violence while innocents are present. Rio is a city under siege by two factions - the police and the drug lords. Where can people hide? Where is there help for P.T.S.D.? The B.C.C. provides safe and free services to assist people caught in the crossfire of this violence...
The police in Rio are constantly waging war against the drug lords who control the Favelas. In retaliation for invading the Favela, the drug lords will take a public bus hostage and catch it on fire. Here is the video of a bus caught on fire three blocks from our offices in Copacabana!
The new work-out "gyms" in Copacabana - very nice equipment and free for anyone to use. The "gyms" are located on the beach, made out of stainless steal and have dip, pull-up, sit-up, lat-pull, and bench-press stations. They are built atop bases made out of wooden planks. Three days after their installation, the one on rua Bolivar and Avenida Atlantica was missing all of the wood planks that formed it's base. We encourage our clients to use these free "gyms" as working out causes the release of endorphins which have been proven to reduce stress. This article (in Portuguese) shows a picture of one of the new "gyms" which are supplied by the same division of the government responsible for the new kiosks, Orlario.
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There are new kiosks in Copacabana! These kiosks (provided by the city of Rio's division called Orlario) are located directly on the beach and are perfect places to stop and have a beverage, eat some food and people watch. These new kiosks are state-of-the-art, however the city of Rio has been in a three year legal battle to convert the old kiosks into new ones. The first two articles address these lawsuits - they are in Portuguese. Presently new kiosks only exist in Copacabana and Barra de Tijuca, there are none in Ipanema and Leblon. The goal of Rio's Prefeitura is that all kiosks are converted by 2014, in time for the World Cup in soccer. The last link leads to the Orlario website (in Portuguese) where there are pictures of the new kiosks.
Another product provided by Orlario (at the new Kiosks) are the pillars along Copacabana beach where you can see what the water quality and determine if you want to go swimming. These pillars also indicate how strong the sun is and what kind of proof SPF should be used (they are divided according to your hair color: blond, brown, black, and other.) These are great resources for our clients as, without having to know how to read, they now know if they can swim in the water. They can decipher if today is a day to stay out of the sun and/or water, or if it is O.K. to partake. Very nice! The first article (in Portuguese) addresses the water quality of the famous beaches in Rio de Janeiro (Ipanema, Copcabana, Barra de Tijuca, etc.) On 03/20/2010, the fecal coliform levels in the water had reached unacceptable levels. The second link (also in Portuguese) is to the Orlario website where there is a picture of one of the pillars.
Another product provided by Orlario (at the new Kiosks) are the pillars along Copacabana beach where you can see what the water quality and determine if you want to go swimming. These pillars also indicate how strong the sun is and what kind of proof SPF should be used (they are divided according to your hair color: blond, brown, black, and other.) These are great resources for our clients as, without having to know how to read, they now know if they can swim in the water. They can decipher if today is a day to stay out of the sun and/or water, or if it is O.K. to partake. Very nice! The first article (in Portuguese) addresses the water quality of the famous beaches in Rio de Janeiro (Ipanema, Copcabana, Barra de Tijuca, etc.) On 03/20/2010, the fecal coliform levels in the water had reached unacceptable levels. The second link (also in Portuguese) is to the Orlario website where there is a picture of one of the pillars.
Rio recently had the worst rain storm in 44 years. On Tuesday 04/06/2010, there was 3x the amount of rain for April in only 24 hours!!! Serious mudslides and flooding ensued. But, the rain wasn't the only problem, the ocean breached many times - Avenida Atlantica (the main street running in front of Copacabana beach) was closed due to being covered with sand! The highest waves in 20 years in Rio and there were strong winds - all included, 400+ dead. There was a huge mudslide in the city of Niteroi on the other side of the bay from Rio. There, an entire Favela washed down a hill and buried over 250+ people. The Favela was built on a garbage landfill. "Officials recognized the need for major works on the city's drainage system to avoid similar problems in the future," a quote from the article.
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The Prefeitura (city) of Rio de Janeiro is in the process of removing the street people from the beach of Copacabana. The new program is called operation "Choquede Ordem" (translated "shock into order",) was put into effect on 01/04/2009 and is a program designed to rid Rio of street vendors, homeless and street gangs. With 1,500 agents and over 40 vehicles, it is an aggressive campaign being waged on the beaches (less on the city's streets) of Rio and at public events. Every morning the vans show up to remove the street people that took up residence the night before. They are transported to a facility miles away. Usually within a week they are back on the beach. The division responsible for Copacabana (known as Copabacana - translated as "cool Copa") was successful in reducing crime over 32% in 2007. These articles are in Portuguese.
The city of Rio has a serious problem with garbage. Trash in the Favelas is often burned and/or thrown over uninhabitable cliffs. Just blocks from our offices in Copacabana trash burning occurs on a weekly basis and the cliffs of the Favela our covered in trash. However, Rio is trying to "clean" up it's image. The goal is to increase social awareness of the problem and one of the tools has been the installation of a giant digital trash counter on Copacabana beach. It counts how many tons of trash has been produced in Rio per month and the how many grams each individual is responsible for on a daily basis. The first article focuses on the new social program to clean up Rio's garbage problem. It is both an article and video (inside the box) - in Portuguese. The second link is to the actual website of the Prefeitura of Rio. Again, in Portuguese, there is a picture of the giant digital counter and the most current totals.
The Prefeitura of the city of Rio managed to close Help, a discotheque on Avenida Atlantica, the street which separates Copacabana from the beach. Help was a destination for sex tourism (prostitution is legal in Brazil - for more on this, see the section below, "Another day in Brazil...") and it's closing has considerably reduced the sex trade and crime in the area. In it's place will be a Museum of Sound, estimated completion date, 2012. This is a joint project between the U.S. and Brazil. Great job working together! The first article is interesting as to Help's closing, the second gives you a general idea of the museum's layout. The third article (in Portuguese) is less heartening. It shows where the prostitution has spread - 12 blocks further down Copacabana beach! Small battles won may eventually mean the war! Congratulations Rio!
After four days of heavy rains, on 02/27/2010, hundreds of thousands of fish died in Rio's largest lake - Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas - located at the base of the statue of Christ (Corcovado) - the internationally known symbol of Rio. This lake is at the base of many Favelas and the runoff area for street level trash. The video is in Portuguese, however the footage is compelling - 35.6 tons of dead fish! The official explanation is that there was no more oxygen for the fish due to an algae outbreak.
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The city of Rio installed video cameras and microphones all over Copacabana in an attempt to better control crime. The program has been a success as street crime is steadily decreasing, however at what cost? Having "Big Brother" watching over you 24/7 can be a little unnerving. In the link, if you scroll down, it shows where all of the cameras (11) are on a map. Merely click on one of the red balloons and you will watch a live feed from that camera. The link is in Portuguese and you have to scroll down a little, but well worth it.
There is a new national program (in 14 states) sponsored by the state of Rio de Janerio called PAC - Programa de Aceleração do Crescimento. This program concentrates on converting the homes in the Favelas from unsafe to safe. The state goes into the poorest areas of town, tear down the old house, build a new apartment complex or house, and move the residents back into the safe construction. This may help to prevent disasters like the mudslides of May, 2010 in which over 400 people were killed as their homes slid down the banks of the hills of Niteroi and Rio, killing them in the process. Link is in Portuguese.
The city of Rio is in the process of designing a manmade solar-powered (clean and sustainable energy) waterfall for the 2016 Olympics. This waterfall will be atop one of the islands off the bay at the base of Sugarloaf (Pão de Açúcar) mountain and Copacabana beach. It will be similar to the one in Manhattan, New York - a wall of vertically cascading water. The link is in Portuguese, however one retains a good grasp of the overall idea.
This article (in Portuguese) concentrates on how some of the Guarda Municipals of the city of Rio have been issued 20 Segway transportation vehicles. The Guarda Municipals are the workers responsible for keeping the peace, removing street people and giving traffic citations. Segways are the same vehicles used by the police in the U.S.A.(like in Venice Beach, California) or in Europe. They cost over $7,000 each, which is more than 20 times the monthly salary for a Guarda Municipal! However, the Prefeitura of Rio claims they paid 24,000Reals ($13,000) for all 20 - very difficult to swallow - and provide "fun while keeping the order." The Segways are used for going from one end of Capacabana beach to the other and for traveling to Leme, Ipanema, Leblon, Lagoa, and Aterro do Flamengo. Maybe it would have been a better investment to have more eyes at the street level?
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